A culture quenched by Jesus.

If you can only imagine the constant cultural learning that continues to take place for our family and the constant praying and leaning into God’s word, in order to have understanding in confusion and rest in His peace and patience. Bottom line – Ministry is hard but grace brings freedom.

Cleaning the church when we know we have water!

Like clock work in this call that we’ve been given, God’s faithfulness is ever present and little by little He continues to pour blessings as an assurance that our ministry is secure. In life now as an overseas missionary family, we continue to work in seasons of learning, growing, understanding and embracing. Coming up to being on the field for two years this month, it never ceases to amaze us with how much we still need to learn but also in how much that we want to remain in our position.

As we’ve shared with a few of you (those from the states), when sometimes this question presents itself, “Is there anything that your family truly misses or longs for from the states that has been hard for your family to experience it’s absence?” The response that we have is almost always to have the assurance and consistency of accessible running water, electricity and the sometimes ease of finding materials that are needed but for a low cost. (Most items of even just a decent quality are almost always a great price tag). But in moments of challenging circumstances (which it’s far greater for the people that we serve than ourselves) almost always we are met with a way out of the struggle and a better understanding to grow in this still new culture.

We’ve also shared with many of you that our position here is to never build ourselves up but to walk alongside the ministry of Project Mañana and the people. And sure enough as we also walk in our relationship with Jesus in our own lives, it’s in Gods word where we see the “Jesus Culture”. His culture that never falters, never changes but in everything, it’s our source of living water that forever remains and teaches.

"When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, " Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

John 13:12

Humility in His grace. That is our position. We never imagined to enter into this call with pomp and circumstance. Neither a position of “so as we are from the United States, let us show you how we can improve and make your lives better than where you are found.” No. Our position is in the calling of Christ. As believers in Him and to be as Paul commands us in Corinthians…

"...just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 

1 Corinthians 10:33 & 11:1

Thank you always for walking along with us. Thank you again for taking the time to hear our hearts, where we live and serve our Savior and God, here in the Dominican Republic. As we learn, as we most times wait, we always feel His Spirit within us and your love, support and prayers carrying us along the way. And as we walk together, as a church of one body, we can then position ourselves underneath each others arms and the arms of others, lifting up one another during burdens, doubts, uncertainties or even loneliness, the weight of this world. While you all are with us, we want to show that we are all here for them. As imitators, reflecting His image that even reaches the continuing generations.

It’s being an open door when someone wants to come over spending time in prayer and encouragement, it’s offering to be present alongside someone as they serve, it’s giving resources that are not always there and it’s showing the desire to want the relationships, friendships and then one day, not always right away, we know that fruit will appear. (And most recently, as people in the community have gifted us with free produce whenever we are close by- “This is A HUGE win” as shared from a local friend. We’ve officially been given a sign of mutual trust and respect).

Spending a Saturday
morning in the community

There are those that still might not understand what it is that we are all doing but for the people within the communities where we serve- they’re always watching. They see the consistency, the persistency, the humility, and one day, as some have already chosen to see…the unfaltering, never-changing, never-ending living water within us. Let us all continue being the hands and feet of our God, a culture quenched by Jesus.